can this "live rock" be saved?

[moonp13]

I would of just given it a good rinse in RO and put it straight back in the tank.

i gave it a "good rinse" and then some, and the ammonia levels are still high at 1.0.

 

[davocean]

The only thing that could really make a difference in speeding up the new cycle would be to scrub off any dieoff/dead sponge, but it still is basically starting over again.

 

[moonp13]

well, heres my plan, and you guys can give me any pointers. I plan on going to the lfs to pick up some live sand for my spare 20 gallon tank and put it in there. Im going to get about a cup of sand from my existing 3 year established tank and seed the new sand with it. Then im going to get the "somewhat alive" rock and put it in there. soon as my mangroves come in im going to put them in there too and wait for the levels to go back to normal and maybe get a fish or two for the tank.

 

[davocean]

I would buy dry sand before shipped live sand, and seed that w/ a handful of established sand for fastest cycle.
Shipped live sand costs more and usually comes w/ dieoff that actually can make it take longer to cycle.

 

[moonp13]

okay. i was thinking about 4 inches of sand. how do you seed the new with the old. just pour it on top before adding water? or lay down about 3 inches, pour old sand on top, then put remaining inch or so ontop of that?

 

[davocean]

I usually place a handful in one spot after water added, or if I transfer from an existing tank, established sand, I'll take the top half inch of existing and lay that on top.

 

[moonp13]

thats quit a bit of sand!

 

[davocean]

Well for the animals I keep I require a DSB, at least 4", preferably 5-6".
But again this is my system setup for animals that require DSB, specifically sand dwelling sea anemones.
In transfering tanks that have a DSB over a year old I will only keep the top half inch, but in a new system just a small handful will seed a new/dry sand bed rather quickly.

 

[moonp13]

okay, i thought you wanted me to take a half inch of my current established dsb and seed the new. so just a handful. cool.

 

[moonp13]

why only one spot on the sandbed?

 

[davocean]

It probably doesn't matter all that much, but I've been taught it's kinda like a little breeding colony area for the living things in that sand.

 

[moonp13]

okay awesome. thanks for all your help. ill let you guys know how things go wro...errr go right.

 

[moonp13]

here are my little seedlings. dont mind the cloudy water lol.